QUESTIONER: Hi. I’m a part of One Dream 2009 and I am one of the 6 million who either have an undocumented parent or is undocumented and I wanted to know if you would support humanity all around the world and support our Dream Act that we are trying to pass.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: Yes. Yes. Thank you. But I will also enforce the existing laws of a country. And a nation’s first requirement is the nation’s security, and that’s why we have to have our borders secured. But, we can have a way and a process of people obtaining citizenship in this country. And, we cannot penalize people who come here legally and people who wait legally. And so, that’s a fundamental principle on which we have to operate. Thank you.

Most of the video being passed around cuts off McCain’s answer after the first or second “Yes.” In reality, McCain has been consistent since his decision to secure the borders that security comes first. Keep in mind that this answer was given in front of La Raza, where McCain’s pandering instincts must have been in full force. And yet he stuck with the promise he made to conservatives after the comprehensive reform fiasco. Good for him.

That doesn’t mean he is giving up on DREAM. After all he’s one of the cosponsors. The bill is not a bad one and I support its most recent incarnation…provided the border is shut. Giving amnesties without ending illegal immigration just incentivizes more illegal immigration.